Frequency signal enabling apparatus and method thereof

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses a frequency signal enabling apparatus and the method thereof for filtering noises and glitch when entering an operating mode from a power-saving mode. When the pulse width of the input frequency signal is smaller than the threshold pulse width, it will be considered as a noise and be filtered out. When the high-level pulse width of the input frequency signal is greater than the threshold, a first short pulse will be generated. When the low-level pulse width of the input frequency signal is greater than the threshold, a second short pulse will be generated. The relative position of the first short pulse and the second short pulse will be used to reconstruct the frequency signal, and the reconstructed frequency signal may serve as the operating frequency of the microprocessor or other digital IC.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a frequency signal enabling apparatusand the method thereof, and more particularly, to a frequency signalenabling apparatus and the method capable of filtering noise and fastenabling the digital IC when transferred from a power-saving mode intoan operating mode.

2. Description of Related Art

Due to the current trend of electronic product for lighter, slimmer andportability, how to enhance the power-saving function has become thedevelopment focus for various manufacturers. The conventionalpower-saving function turns off the input frequency signal (XTAL) of themicroprocessor after the microprocessor enters a power-saving mode froman operating mode; and while the microprocessor returns to the operatingmode from the power-saving mode, the input frequency signal is turnedon. While the input frequency signal was turned on from off, theaforementioned power-saving function will generate a transient noisesignal. The microprocessor must wait a period of time to proceed withoperating until the input frequency signal became stable. Otherwise, ifthe microprocessor begins to operate while the input frequency signalwas not yet stable, it is easy to crash or calculate with the wrongresults.

A conventional manner for solving aforementioned problem uses a countercircuit. First, the circuit designer sets a safe count value that whenthe counter counts from zero to the said count value, it means the inputfrequency signal is stable, then the microprocessor is enabled toproceed with operating.

The drawback of the conventional manner is that a large chip area iswasted. Especially for some light, slim electronic products, the chipwith too large area is against the design rule. Thus, for the industry,it is necessary to provide an effective solution to avoid producing anerror operation while the microprocessor or other digital IC returns theoperating mode from the power-saving mode.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The first object of the invention is to provide a frequency signalenabling apparatus, which occupies less area.

The second object of the invention is to provide a frequency signalenabling apparatus and the method thereof, which may start rapidly afterthe IC entering into an operating mode from a power-saving mode.

The third object of the invention is to provide a frequency signalenabling apparatus and the method thereof, which is capable of filteringnoises and glitch.

To achieve the aforementioned objects, the invention proceeds with noisefiltering for frequency signal immediately after the IC entering intothe operating mode from the power-saving mode. When the pulse width ofthe input frequency signal is smaller than the threshold pulse width, itwill be considered as a noise and be filtered out. When the high-levelpulse width of the input frequency signal is greater than the threshold,a first short pulse will be generated. When the low-level pulse width ofthe input frequency signal is greater than the threshold, a second shortpulse will be generated. The relative position of the first short pulseand the second short pulse will be used to reconstruct the frequencysignal, and the reconstructed frequency signal may serve as theoperating frequency of the microprocessor or other digital IC.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described according to the appendeddrawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a system diagram of a frequency signal enabling apparatusaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a circuit module of a frequency signal enabling apparatusaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a circuit diagram of a first pulse generator according tothe present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a timing diagram of a frequency signal enabling apparatusaccording to the present invention; and

FIG. 5 shows a flow chart of a frequency signal enabling apparatusaccording to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is the system schematic view of the frequency signal enablingapparatus 12 of the invention. The frequency signal enabling apparatus12 receives a frequency signal XTAL generated by a frequency oscillator13, and eliminates the noise of the frequency signal XTAL to furthergenerate a stable frequency signal Z for the microprocessor 11. When themicroprocessor 11 enters into a power-saving mode from an operatingmode, the input frequency signal XTAL will be turned off. When themicroprocessor returns from power-saving mode to operating mode, theinput frequency signal XTAL will be turned on. What is different fromthe prior art is that the frequency signal enabling apparatus 12 mayconvert the unstable frequency signal into a stable frequency signal inreal-time for the microprocessor 11. In other words, the frequencysignal enabling apparatus 12 of the invention may avoid the drawback inprior art that while returning from the power-saving mode to theoperating mode, the microprocessor 11 must wait a period of time toproceed with operating. Furthermore, the number of transistors necessaryfor the frequency signal enabling apparatus 12 of the invention is lessthan that of the counter circuit in prior art, that is the chip areaoccupied by the frequency signal enabling apparatus 12 of the inventionis smaller, thereby it is more suitable for the lighter, slimmerelectronic products.

The system diagram shown in FIG. 1 is only one embodiment of theinvention. In practical application, the frequency signal enablingapparatus 12 may also be embedded into the microprocessor 11 to reducethe manufacturing cost.

FIG. 2 shows the circuit block diagram of the frequency signal enablingapparatus of the invention, which mainly includes a first clockgenerator 22, a second clock generator 23 and a flip-flop 21. Thecircuit designer may preset a threshold pulse width that when the pulsewidth of the input frequency signal XTAL is smaller than the threshold,it will be considered as a noise and be filtered out. When thehigh-level pulse width of the input frequency signal XTAL is greaterthan the threshold, a first short pulse will be generated by the firstclock generator 22. When the low-level pulse width of the inputfrequency signal XTAL is greater than the threshold, a second shortpulse will be generated by the second clock generator 23. The secondclock generator 23 may be constituted from a NOT gate 24 connecting witha first pulse generator 22 in series. The output terminals of the firstpulse generator 22 and the second pulse generator 23 are connected tothe flip-flop 21. The flip-flop 21 starts with the first short pulseoutputted from the first pulse generator 22, and ends with the secondshort pulse outputted from the second pulse generator 23 so as toreconstruct a frequency signal Z with complete waveform. The flip-flop21 may be the conventional RS flip-flop or of other types, which are notconfined in the invention.

FIG. 3 shows the circuit diagram of the first pulse generator 22 of theinvention. The output terminal of the first pulse generator 22 is aflip-flop 34, such as a RS flip-flop. One input terminal of theflip-flop 34 is a first delay circuit 32, which may be formed byconnecting a plurality of inverter in series in the design. The circuitdesigner may set the delay period of the first delay circuit 32 in orderto generate a corresponding threshold pulse width. Another inputterminal of the flip-flop 34 is a second delay circuit 33, which may beconstituted from the series combination of the delay circuit 32 and aNOT gate 31, that the delay period may be set close to that of the firstdelay circuit 32.

FIG. 4 shows the timing diagram of the frequency signal enablingapparatus of the invention. In FIG. 4, an input frequency signal XTALhas some noise and glitch on the high-level and low-level pulses,respectively. If the circuit designer sets the threshold pulse width at12 ns, the input frequency signal XTAL with pulse widths at 2 ns and 8ns will be filtered out. The input frequency signal XTAL with pulsewidth at 14 ns on the high-level and the low-level will be detected bythe first pulse generator 22 and the second pulse generator 23,respectively, and the corresponding first short pulse and second shortpulse will be generated. The flip-flop 21 starts with the first shortpulse, and ends with the second short pulse, and reconstructs afrequency signal with complete waveform.

FIG. 5 shows the flow chart of the frequency signal enabling method ofthe invention. In step 51, the invention is started. In step 52, thecircuit designer presets a threshold pulse width. When the pulse widthof the input frequency signal is smaller than the threshold pulse width,it will be considered as a noise and be filtered out. When the pulsewidth of the input frequency signal is greater than the threshold pulsewidth, the pulse may be reconstructed by the following steps. In step53, when the high-level pulse width of the input frequency signal isgreater than the threshold, a first short pulse will be generated. Instep 54, when the low-level pulse width of the input frequency signal isgreater than the threshold, a second short pulse is generated. In step55, starting with the first short pulse and ending with the said secondshort pulse, that a frequency signal is reconstructed. The reconstructedfrequency signal may serve as the operating frequency of themicroprocessor or other digital IC so as to avoid the waiting period forstable frequency while entering operating mode from power-saving mode.In step 56, the invention is ended.

The described embodiment starts with the first short pulse and ends withthe second short pulse to reconstruct the frequency signal. However, inpractical application, it may start with the second short pulse and endswith the first short pulse to reconstruct the frequency signal, or usingother similar methods, which are not confined in the invention.

The above-described embodiments of the present invention are intended tobe illustrative only. Numerous alternative embodiments may be devised bythose skilled in the art without departing from the scope of thefollowing claims.

1. A frequency signal enabling apparatus for filtering input frequencysignals whose pulse width is less than a predetermined threshold pulsewidth, comprising: a first pulse generator, generating a first shortpulse if a high-level pulse width of said input frequency signal isgreater than said predetermined threshold pulse width; a second pulsegenerator, generating a second short pulse if a low-level pulse width ofsaid input frequency signal is greater than said predetermined thresholdpulse width; and a flip-flop connected to said first pulse generator andsaid second pulse generator, said flip-flop utilizing said first shortpulse and said second short pulse to reconstruct said frequency signal.2. The frequency signal enabling apparatus of claim 1, wherein saidsecond pulse generator includes a NOT gate and another first pulsegenerator connected to said NOT gate in series.
 3. The frequency signalenabling apparatus of claim 1, wherein said flip-flop is a RS flip-flop.4. The frequency signal enabling apparatus of claim 1, wherein saidfirst pulse generator comprises: a first delay circuit for generating adelay signal, and a delay time of said delay signal being directlyproportional to a value of said predetermined threshold pulse width; asecond delay circuit for generating a contrary signal to said signalgenerated by said first delay circuit; and a flip-flop connected to saidfirst delay circuit and said second delay circuit, and said flip-flopgenerating a first short pulse if a high-level pulse width of said inputfrequency signal is greater than said predetermined threshold pulsewidth.
 5. The frequency signal enabling apparatus of claim 4, whereinsaid flip-flop is a RS flip-flop.
 6. The frequency signal enablingapparatus of claim 1, wherein said first pulse generator comprises: afirst delay circuit for generating a delay signal, and a delay time ofsaid delay signal being directly proportional to a value of saidpredetermined threshold pulse width; a second delay circuit forgenerating a contrary signal to said signal generated by said firstdelay circuit; and a flip-flop connected to said first delay circuit andsaid second delay circuit, and said flip-flop generating a second shortpulse if a low-level pulse width of said input frequency signals isgreater than said predetermined threshold pulse width.
 7. The frequencysignal enabling apparatus of claim 5, wherein said flip-flop is a RSflip-flop.
 8. The frequency signal enabling apparatus of claim 1,wherein said flip-flop reconstruct said frequency signal starting atsaid first short pulse and ending at said second short pulse.
 9. Thefrequency signal enabling apparatus of claim 1, wherein said flip-flopreconstruct said frequency signal starting at said second short pulseand ending at said first short pulse.
 10. A frequency signal enablingmethod for fast enabling a digital IC when transferred from apower-saving mode to an operating mode, comprising the steps of: settingup a threshold pulse width; generating a first short pulse if ahigh-level pulse width of said input frequency signal is greater thansaid predetermined threshold pulse width; generating a second shortpulse if a low-level pulse width of said input frequency signal isgreater than said predetermined threshold pulse width; andreconstructing said frequency signal depending on positions of saidfirst short pulse and said second short pulse.
 11. The frequency signalenabling method of claim 10, wherein said frequency signal starts atsaid first short pulse and ends at said second short pulse.
 12. Thefrequency signal enabling method of claim 10, wherein said frequencysignal starts at said second short pulse and ends at said first shortpulse.